6 reasons why climbing is the best sport, ever

1. You get SO STRONG. Seriously. And it trains your entire body--that means arms, legs, AND core. You'll feel good about yourself. Plus, the world of pullups will open up to you. Additionally, it strengthens your mind and makes you improve your mental game.

2. You'll make lots of friends. Unless you're one of those people who grunts noncommittally every time a potential friend asks you a question, the expansion of your friendship circle is pretty inevitable. When you boulder, you'll need a spotter and/or a witness to support you when you say you just sent that V4 (or higher). Top-roping/leading: You need a belayer, and if your mom or dad refuse to take the belay certification class, you're out of luck. Ask a friendly staff member for a belay. Or you could find a person your age with a Grigri/ATC hanging from his/her harness. But I would start with the staff.

3. Sometimes, you'll flash a hard route. Most of the time you won't. But I like the fact that you might get it right (if you know what you're doing), rather than the "you'll never get it right the first time but just keep trying and eventually you will" #$%^. Yes, it's true. But it isn't really something anyone wants to hear.

4. There will always be something to work on. Whether it's your three-month lead project or a brand new boulder problem, it's pretty hard to be bored at the rockwall. 

5. There's something for everyone. Scared of heights? Start with bouldering. You will, eventually, move on to big walls. If you want. Need something daring? Try a lead climb (I don't care how easy it is). And even better, take some falls. Want to try some hard stuff? Start on top-rope. The falls are generally less scary, and it allows you to rest wherever you need to--without downclimbing or heading up to the nearest quickdraw and resting there. And if you really want a challenge, offer to clean (unclip the rope from the quickdraws) a route after someone's lead climbed it. Harder than it sounds.

6. It is just so. Much. Fun.